We’ve already seen spy shots and some sketches of the new Opel/Saturn/Vauxhall Astra and now GM has decided to tease us a little more, by releasing a photo of the car covered with a semi-transparent veil. Now I don’t know why everyone says that the car will make its debut next year at Frankfurt, because the car seems ready to take off and, who knows, maybe we’ll get to see it in Paris next month. I mean, why would you release a teaser one year before the launch, just doesn’t make sense. Just as a reminder, the new Astra borrows a lot from its bigger sister, the Insignia, such as the exterior styling and a series of features like the Front Camera System or the Adaptive Front Lighting (AFL).

Read More: "Teaser photo of the next generation Opel Astra"

Opel’s British arm, Vauxhall, announced today that the Astra TwinTop will be available with a VXR bodykit, which will include a restyled front spoiler skirt, side sills, rear spoiler and lower spoiler skirt. The more aggressive look of the TwinTop fitted with the VXR kit is inspired by Vauxhall’s record-breaking British Touring Car Championship team. And it looks really good, wondering if US designers will do the same good job.

The full bodykit is available for £1,399 (around $2,500) and Vauxhall also offfers the possibility for the rear spoiler to be fitted separately for £299 (around $530). All prices include installation and painting to match body color. For customers wanting more than a bodykit, Vauxhall offers more accessories such as sport exhausts, stainless steel pedals and alloy wheels.

Read More: "Vauxhall Astra TwinTop gets VXR styling kit"

With VW’s Golf VI almost out, Opel can’t afford wasting any time with their new Opel Astra. And here are a couple of spy photos, taken by one of Autojunk’s readers, on the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. We can see a prototype of the new Astra, which looks like it will follow the Insignia design line which means more curved lines and a more sporty look. Built on GM’s Delta platform, the new Astra will be offered in three and five-door version, station wagon, sedan and cabriolet. Pictured here we’ve got a five door version.

Under the bonnet, Opel will offer the same engine range, plus a new 1.4 litre turbocharged that will produce between 120 and 140 hp and 175 to 200 Nm of torque. Rumors say that the engine will offer an 8% improvement in fuel consumption

The new Opel Astra will make its debut at next year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, sales will start soon after and it will be available in the US as a Saturn and in Australia as a Holden.

Check out one more photo after the jump. Read More: "The new 2009 Opel Astra spied"

Launched in 1991, the Opel Astra replaced the legendary Kadett (the first one was made in 1936) and is one of Opel’s most sucessful model which is currently being built in ten locations worldwide, in countries like Germany, Belgium, UK, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil and Serbia. 17 years later, the 10 millionth Opel Astra was built yesterday at the Opel plant in Bochum, Germany. The milestone car is a Silver Lightning Astra Station Wagon 1.7 CDTI.

The first generation Opel Astra was built until 1998 with 4.13 million units sold, which makes it one of the most successful cars evers. The second generation, built between 1998 and 2004 was sold in 3.8 million units, while the current generation, introduced in 2004 was sold in 1.9 million units, with over 500,000 sold only last year.

Read More: "10 millionth Opel Astra produced"